Researchers studying cultures of brain cells from humans, gorillas, and chimpanzees have uncovered why human brains grow so much larger than those of other primates, CBC reports. The team found that in early development, as the brain is developing from what are called neural progenitors — which are the cells that will eventually make neurons — human tissue cultures spend more time making more of these progenitor cells, thanks to a gene called ZEB2.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/mar-27-covid-pandemic-origins-nature-sounds-good-why-humans-have-such-big-brains-and-more-1.5965083/researchers-use-mini-brains-to-find-out-why-ours-grow-so-large-1.5965088
The explosion of COVID-19 around the world had a longer fuse than early indications suggested, according to a new study published in the journal Science. "That was definitely connected to a lot of the early cases, but it's now clear that the epidemic started well before that," said researcher Michael Worobey. "Rather than being the source of early infections from animals to humans in that market, it was probably really a human-to-human amplifier of outbreak."
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/mar-27-covid-pandemic-origins-nature-sounds-good-why-humans-have-such-big-brains-and-more-1.5965083/covid-fuse-may-have-been-lit-weeks-or-months-before-the-wuhan-market-bomb-1.5965090
A team of researchers at the University of Georgia has created a backpack equipped with AI gear aimed at being an alternative to guide dogs and canes for the blind, Tech Xplore reports. The group designed an AI system that could give visually impaired people better clues about their environment.
https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-ai-equipped-backpack-dogs-cane.html
Besides the obvious chocolate bars of the planet's name, what should be on the grocery list for a six-month voyage to Mars? There is big money in it if you lead the way in helping NASA on its dietary mission.
https://www.cnet.com/news/nasa-is-figuring-out-how-to-feed-astronauts-heading-to-mars/
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has warned about what it calls “huge gaps” in U.K. employment law over the use of artificial intelligence at work, reports the BBC. “AI at work could be used to improve productivity and working lives," says TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady. "But it is already being used to make life-changing decisions about people at work – like who gets hired and fired."
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56515827
The vessel blocking one of the world’s most important shipping passages is curbing shipments of crude oil and liquefied natural gas ... and containers of robusta coffee, the type used to make instant coffee. All of the beans from East Africa and Asia flow to Europe via the currently blocked Suez Canal, Bloomberg reports.
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/your-instant-coffee-may-soon-be-at-risk-from-suez-blockage-1.1582540
An international team of researchers has developed a way to harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices, Tech Xplore reports. Current energy sources for wearable health-monitoring devices have drawbacks – e.g. solar power requires sun exposure, and a self-powered triboelectric device can only harvest energy when the body is in motion. "We don't want to replace any of these current power sources," lead researcher Larry Cheng said. "We are trying to provide additional, consistent energy."
https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-harvest-energy-radio-power-wearable.html
Tesla CEO Elon Musk made good on a promise from two months ago with his announcement today that purchases of the company's electric vehicles can be made through the leading cryptocurrency, CNET reported. "Bitcoin paid to Tesla will be retained as Bitcoin, not converted to fiat currency," Musk noted.
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-bitcoin-purchase-accepts-elon-musk/
Osaka University scientists employed deep learning artificial intelligence to improve mobile mixed reality generation; work that could lead to a revolution in green architecture and city revitalization, reports Tech Xplore.
https://techxplore.com/news/2021-03-reality-machine.html
Oil prices in New York and London fell as much as 5 per cent, and the oil futures curve showed signs of near-term weakness following widening lockdown measures in Germany, France, and Italy, BNN Bloomberg reports.
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/oil-drops-with-renewed-lockdowns-dimming-outlook-for-demand-1.1580832
